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STUDENTS' E-MAIL NEWS FROM THE CZECH REPUBLIC
Charles University in Prague
Faculty of Social Sciences
Smetanovo nabr. 6
110 01 Prague 1
Czech Republic
e-mail: CAROLINA@mbox.fsv.cuni.cz
tel: (+4202) 22112252, fax: (+4202) 22112219
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C A R O L I N A No 351, Friday, November 12, 1999.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (November 3 - November 10)
Central European Initiative Accepts Stability Pact
The summit of the Central European Initiative (CEI) November 5-6 in
Prague was mainly devoted to the question of the renewal of the Balkans
and joining the Stability Pact. The summit was attended by the prime
ministers and foreign and economic ministers of 16 central and eastern
European countries.
The Stability Pact, designed to support the restoration of the
Balkans, was passed by the foreign ministers of G8 countries in June and
the CEI summit declared its readiness to participate in the pact. When
Milos Zeman, prime minister of the Czech Republic and this year's
chairman of the organization, was asked how the CEI would financially
support the pact, Zeman said CEI representatives were negotiating with
the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development.
Zeman said the Czech Republic could assist in rebuilding power
plants and energy networks. He said Czech companies had built about 35
per cent of the energy capacity in the region, so they have a special
interest in the renewal. Zeman proposed creating a working group for
energy. Zeman also offered aid in instituting European law and
rebuilding the state sector. The CEI summit, however, did not create any
projects for the Balkans' renewal. The statesmen agreed only on the need
for cleaning the Danube, which is now impassable because of debris from
the NATO-Serbian conflict.
Politicians also used the summit for various bilateral talks. Zeman
and his Ukrainian counterpart agreed to create a commission to reduce
illegal immigration from the Ukraine to the Czech Republic. Czech
Foreign Minister Jan Kavan discussed the Benes Decrees with the Austrian
foreign minister. Jakub Tronicek/Ondrej Maly
Deputies Agree to Ombudsman
Years of discussion concerning the office of the public-rights
advocate ombudsman, present in a majority of EU countries and a number
of other countries, ended November 4. Deputies from the ruling Social
Democrats, the Christian Democrats and the Communist Party of Bohemia
and Moravia passed the Government bill, while the majority of deputies
of the Freedom Union and the Civic Democratic Party voted against the
proposal. If the Senate ratifies the bill, the ombudsman should start
work next year.
Opponents say the ombudsman's authority is too limited. The
ombudsman can oversee the actions of state authorities, draw attention
to human-rights violations and help those who claim discrimination by
the state, but he will not have the authority to change official
decisions.
The politically neutral advocate will have his seat in Brno and his
office should cost about 30 million crowns annually, while its creation
will cost 20 milion crowns. Jan Skala/Ondrej Maly
Four Party-Coalition Offers ODS Center-Right Coalition
Representatives of the Four Party-Coalition (Christian Democrats,
the Freedom Union, the Civic Democratic Alliance and the Democratic
Union) November 9 sent a letter to Civic Democratic Party (ODS) Chairman
Vaclav Klaus offering a center-right coalition if ODS deputies would
support calling for a vote of confidence in the Government. A government
of ODS and the Four Party-Coalition might have only 100 deputies in the
200-seat Chamber of Deputies, because Marie Machata left the Freedom
Union and Josef Lux, the former Christian Democrat chairman, is
hospitalized in the United States. ODS Vice Chairman Ivan Langer said
his party is skeptical about the initiative and still prefers
a super-coalition including ODS, the Four-Party Coalition and the ruling
Social Democrats. Jakub Trnka/Jakub Jirovec
Police Attack on Anti-fascists October 28 Becomes International Issue
Swiss journalist Heinz Moll, a correspondent for a number of Swiss
and German papers, accused the Czech police of brutality in connection
with his detainment October 28.
Moll, who was taking pictures of a police attack on anti-fascists in
Prague's Tyl Square (see Carolina 350), was arrested under mysterious
circumstances. "If they hadn't ripped the exposed film out of my camera,
I would have had unique pictures. Young people were lying on the ground
handcuffed and the police were ruthlessly beating them," said Moll to
the Czech daily Pravo. He added that he was "beaten, choked, kicked, hit
in the back with a nightstick" and that the police beat his head against
a car even though he had showned them his international journalist ID.
He was then detained for eight hours without being told why, questioned
and was to be November 4 deported from the Czech Republic. The Swiss
Embassy Counsel asked the Czech Government to explain the incident, as
did some of the eight international newspapers to which Moll
contributes. Moll will meet November 14 with Swiss President Ruth
Dreifuss, who is to visit the Czech Republic.
Moll, in his letter to Pravo, pointed out that this was his second
encounter with Czech police, the first one having been in January 1989
under the Communist regime. Moll said that in 1989 he was released after
two hours along with his camera and film. "They treated me correctly.
I was not injured at all," Moll said.
The police investigation has not yet concluded.
Marek Uhlir/Sofia Karakeva
Health Minister David Probably to Lose Office
The Chamber of Deputies November 10 rejected amendments to the
Health Insurance Act as a signal that Health Minister Ivan David should
be recalled from office. Prime Minister Milos Zeman said last week he
would recall David if the Chamber did not pass the amendments. Deputies,
however, prevented chaos in the health-insurance field by passing the
same amendments as part of the Insurance Act.
The minister has been criticized recently for poor management by
opposition deputies, the media and physicians over his spat with Motol
Faculty Hospital Director Helena Rognerova (see Carolina 349) and over
the liquidation of some research institutes. David's resignation has
also been demanded by the Czech Medical Chamber and healthcare unions.
David announced he would not resign. Zeman was to return November
11 from a trip to the US. The media have referred to the drama in the
legislature as theater and farce. Radka Kohoutova/Jakub Jirovec
Romanies Request Fence Be Removed
Romany leaders November 8 asked Prime Minister Milos Zeman and the
Government to eliminate all forms of racism and discrimination in the
Czech Republic.
The Romanies asked first that the fence in Maticni Street in Usti
nad Labem be removed (see Carolina 350). The local council October 13
decided to build a fence separating Romanies from mostly white
homeowners after complaints from the homeowners. Romanies have been
demonstrating against the fence for a week.
David Mirejovsky/Sofia Karakeva
Student Runs for Law Dean
On November 11 the Law School of Charles University in Prague will
elect a new dean. Not only has the school drawn attention to itself
hanks to the scandal surrounding this year's entrance exams (applicants
were able to obtain the tests in advance for 50,000 crowns), but also
with this year's elections of the dean. Five candidates are teachers,
while the sixth is 22-year-old, fourth-year law student and member of
the Academic Senate Jiri Hladik. The new University Act, which came into
force earlier this year, makes his candidacy possible because it does
not specify any conditions for becoming dean. Anyone nominated by the
academic community can be elected.
Hladik, who was nominated by six members of the academic community
(one of them a member of the Academic Senate), said he does not think
his chances for being elected are so slim. The senate consists of 12
professors and nine students, and a candidate needs a simple majority
for election. Hladik said his program has met with a positive response
from students and teachers.
Zdenek Jicinsky, Social Democrat deputy, said Hladik's candidacy
symbolizes the inconsistency of the University Act, which was the
subject of conflict and compromise in the legislature.
Tereza Tesarikova /Simon Dominik
Zelezny-CME Fight in International Court
An international arbitration court in Stockholm decided to place
a preliminary injunction against Vladimir Zelezny, majority owner of
CET21, the license-holder for TV NOVA. The court ruled in favor of CME,
according to unofficial information from several Czech dailies November
12. Zelezny, however, refuses to respect the verdict, claiming it is not
enforceable in the Czech Republic.
CME financed the creation of TV NOVA and provided all its
programming. Zelezny's CET 21 withdrew from its agreement with
CME-owned service provider CNTS in August. CME claims the contract
requires CET 21 to receive its programming exclusively from CNTS and
asked Zelezny to return the 25 million USD he received for his share.
CME wants another 500 million crowns as compensation for damages.
Another arbitration hearing will decide on charges by CME
controlling shareholder Ronald Lauder that the Czech Republic has
violated its treaty with the US on investment protection. Lauder is
asking for 18 billion crowns in damages. Lauder publicized his lawsuit
in American dailies The New York Times and Washington Post November 8
(see above).
Two American cingressmen, Tom Lantos and Benjamin Gilman, have also
joined the fight, sending a letter to Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman
asking for compensation of damages caused by the actions of the
Government. Zeman criticized the congressmen, saying they should know it
is not the Government in the Czech Republic that oversees broadcasting
licenses, but the Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting.
Michaela Kleckova/Zuzana Janeckova
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Zeman in USA
Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman, Slovak Premier Mikulas Dzurinda
and American President Bill Clinton November 8 celebrated the 10th
anniversary of the end of the cold war at Georgetown University in
Washington D.C. In his speech Clinton accentuated democratic movements
in the former communist countries and spoke about the role of the United
States as a global power. Zeman's five-minute speech expressed gratitude
to the US.
On his arrival to the United States November 8 Zeman was given an
unexpected welcome by shareholders of Central European Media Enterprises
(CME). The company, which is in a conflict with the Czech company CET
21 and its owner Vladimir Zelezny over control of TV NOVA (see above),
published a full-page advertisement in the New York Times and the
Washington Post warning against investing in the Czech Republic.
The main topic of discussion in the Oval Office between Clinton,
Dzurinda and Zeman was an evaluation of the 10 years since the fall of
communism in Eastern Europe. The discussion also touched on the wall in
Maticni Street in the Czech city of Usti nad Labem.
The construction the wall to divide Romanies from whites has drawn
a great deal of attention from American politicians and media. The
politicians also spoke about specific programs of the Czech and Slovak
governments to help Romanies. Nikoleta Alivojvodic/Simon Dominik
FROM SLOVAKIA
End of Visa Requirements for Entering Finland and Norway
The visa requirements instituted by Finland and Norway ended at
midnight November 6. Finland introduced the requirement on a four-month
basis July 7 as a reaction to the rising number of Slovak Romanies
seeking political asylum. Finnish immigration authorities recorded 1,061
applications by November 5. After 57 Slovak Romanies applied for
political asylum in Norway by July 27, the country temporarily froze the
countries' visa-free agreement.
In the past, would-be Romany emigres focused on Great Britain,
which introduced visa requirements for Slovak citizens October 8, 1998
because the number of political asylum applications that year increased
by 1,400. Belgium, another frequent destination for Slovak Romanies, has
not introduced visa requirements. Andrea Slovakova/Jaroslav Sauer
FROM SLOVAKIA IN BRIEF
* Interior Minister Ladislav Pittner, who led a ministry delegation
on a two-day visit to Bulgaria, signed an agreement to fight organized
crime together. The agreement expand the possibilities for police
cooperation between the two countries. Andrea Slovakova/Jaroslav Sauer
ECONOMY
Credit Unions Collapse
The Credit Union Regulatory Office November 4 imposed forced
administration on the Czech Republic's largest credit union, the First
Cooperative Credit Union (1. druzstevni zalozna) in Ostrava, because of
a deficit of liquid assets (according to the law, 15 per cent of all
assets must be liquid). The credit union manages about 3.5 billion
crowns belonging to more than 25,000 depositors. All credit unions in
the country control about 10 billion crowns, and problems in the Ostrava
credit union could cause a panic.
In the First Cooperative, a ban on paying out or accepting deposits
has been imposed for 10 days; during that time the credit union's assets
will be verified. The regulatory office said the goal of forced
administration is to help the credit union recover and to protect its
depositors' savings. However, Czech Credit Union Association Chairman
Richard Mandelik said the state bureaucracy and a certain lobby are
trying to liquidate the credit unions.
Police also November 4 arrested and accused of tax fraud the
chairman of the First Prague Cooperative Credit Union (Prvni prazska
druzstevni zalozna) as he was leaving for Brazil. This credit union is
well known thanks to a massive advertising campaign and because it was
rejected for membership in the Czech Credit Union Association because of
questionable management.
Then November 8 the credit union with the most depositors (some
31,000), the Family Credit Union (Rodinna zalozna) in Moravske
Budejovice, stopped paying out deposits. Two days later, branches of the
Small Business Savings and Loan Cooperative (Zivnostenske sporitelni
a uverove druzstvo) were closed indefinitely. Its speaker and the
regulatory office said the closing is a preventative measure in response
to the situation in the credit unions. Dita Eckhardtova/Denisa Vitkova
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid November 11)
----------------------------------------------------------
1 EUR = 36.470
country currency CZK
----------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 22.461
Great Britain 1 GBP 56.902
Denmark 1 DKK 4.905
Japan 100 JPY 33.350
Canada 1 CAD 23.817
IMF 1 XDR 48.311
Hungary 100 HUF 14.287
Norway 1 NOK 4.457
New Zealand 1 NZD 17.958
Poland 1 PLN 8.198
Greece 100 GRD 11.093
Slovakia 100 SKK 83.929
Slovenia 100 SIT 18.524
Sweden 1 SEK 4.218
Switzerland 1 CHF 22.680
USA 1 USD 35.071
Exchange Rates of countries participating in the euro (converted from
the
euro rate)
Germany 1 DEM 18.647
Belgium 100 BEF 90.407
Finland 1 FIM 6.134
France 1 FRF 5.560
Ireland 1 IEP 46.307
Italy 1000 ITL 18.835
Luxemburg 100 LUF 90.407
Netherlands 1 NLG 16.549
Portugal 100 PTE 18.191
Austria 1 ATS 2.650
Spain 100 ESP 21.919
CULTURE
Like John Lennon, Bohumil Hrabal Has a Wall in Prague
At a time when Germany is commemorating the fall of the Berlin
Wall, late author Bohumil Hrabal's wall is being created. A plain
concrete wall in Liben, Hrabal's beloved Prague neighborhood, has been
decorated by painter Tatiana Svatosova to honor the author's work and
life.
Passersby will see four parts connected by a motif of cats,
Hrabal's favorite pets. The first part pictures a bookcase full of
Hrabal's favorite authors, including Franz Kafka and satirist Jaroslav
Hasek, creator of The Good Soldier Schweik. The second part shows
Hrabal's ancient Perkeo typewriter, the third part recalls his favourite
pubs and restaurants, and the last panel features a silhouette of
Hrabal. The parts are also brought together by extracts from Hrabal's
books.
The wall stands where the house in which Hrabal lived most of his
life once stood, before it was torn down to make way for the subway.
Svatosova had contacted graffitti sprayers to contribute to the wall,
but they declined. The work, which took 33 days, was paid for by
Prague's 8th district as part of the project for Prague - European City
of Culture for 2000.
Present at the opening of the wall were actress and former Slovak
presidential candidate Magda Vasaryova and director Jiri Menzel, who
based his films Closely Watched Trains (Ostre sledovane vlaky, the
Academy-award winner for best foreign-language film of 1968) and Cutting
It Short (Postriziny) on Hrabal's books. Michal Pospisil/Daniela Vrbova
SPORTS
Rivaldo's Barcelona Will Play in Prague in Champions League
Sparta Praha's opponents in the Champions League second phase's
group are glamorous and yet beatable. In a group A Sparta will meet FC
Barcelona, FC Porto and Hertha BSC Berlin. While Barcelona is one of the
world's top clubs, the other two teams appear beatable.
Barcelona, one of the best teams in Europe, is the favorite of the
group. Its squad includes many stars, such as forwards Kluivert and
Rivaldo. Sparta met Barcelona in 1992 in the unofficial first round of
the Champions League, losing in Spain 2-3 and winning in Prague 1-0.
Sparta will start the second phase at home against Porto November 23 and
then will travel to Barcelona December 8. Martin Moravec/Mirek Langer
UEFA Cup: Slavia Advances, Teplice Falls
The rematches in the UEFA Cup's second round were played November
4. Slavia Praha advanced despite losing in Zurich 0-1, while the other
Czech team - FK Teplice - was eliminated after two losses.
Slavia played in Zurich against Grasshoppers with hopeful prospects
after winning the first game 3-1. The rematch's first half was played in
slow motion, but the pace picked up after the break. The Swiss team's
first goal (Stephane Chapuisat) was disallowed because of offsides.
Slavia's Tomas Dosek had two chances and finally converted after
goalkeeper Philippe Walker fouled him and was sent off. However, Slavia
could not score with the one-man advantage, and Zurich's Murat Yakin
decided the match in the 76th minute.
Teplice lost both games against Mallorca. After the first game
(1-2), the second game started with nervous Teplice players losing many
passes. Miguel Angel Nadal opened the scoring for Mallorca and Teplice
had to play more aggressively. But only the Spaniards scored after the
break, and, thanks to Jovan Stankovic's and Fernando Nino Bejarano's
shots, Mallorca defeated Teplice 3-0.
Slavia will meet Steaua Bucuresti in the next round of the UEFA
Cup. The first game will be played in Prague November 25, the rematch is
scheduled for December 9. Jaroslav Sauer, Martin Moravec/Mirek Langer
Slavia Defeats Sparta in Derby of League's Top Teams
"It's easy. You have to stand in the right place and the ball hits
you," said forward Robert Vagner about his scoring method and then
added, "Well, it was just a coincidence." Five minutes before the end of
the Slavia-Sparta match, after a corner kick, Radek Krejcik's shot hit
Vagner's chest and deflected into the net. Slavia Praha defeated Sparta
Praha in the 136th intracity derby 2-1.
Slavia was better early on, as Tomas Dosek centered on Pavel
Horvath's goal. Then the game was interrupted by an unfortunate
collision of two Sparta players, Petr Gabriel and Vladimir Labant.
Gabriel was uninjured, but Labant broke his tibia and fibula.
Ludek Zelenka's shot in the 48th minute was stopped by Sparta
defender Milan Fukal just before the goal-line. At the opposite end,
Pavel Novotny tied the game at 1-1 after a corner kick in the 63rd
minute. Slavia goalkeeper Radek Cerny then saved chances by Libor Sionko
and Josef Obajdin.
Slavia leads the standings, four points ahead of Sparta.
Results of the 13th round of the soccer league: Slavia Praha - Sparta
Praha 2-1, Zizkov - Opava 3-2, Liberec - Brno 0-1, Blsany - Ceske
Budejovice 3-2, Ostrava - Pribram 2-0, Hradec Kralove - Bohemians
Praha 1-2, Drnovice - Jablonec 3-0, Olomouc - Teplice 2-2.
Standings: 1. Slavia Praha 31, 2. Sparta Praha 27, 3. Drnovice 23, 4.
Bohemians Praha 21, 5. Ostrava 20, 6. Ceske Budejovice 20, 7. Teplice
19, 8. Liberec 15, 9. Brno 15, 10. Blsany 14, 11. Opava 13, 12. Olomouc
13, 13. Pribram 13, 14. Jablonec 13, 15. Hradec Kralove 12, 16. Zizkov
11. David Luksu/Mirek Langer
Hockey Extraleague: Change in First Place
The headline matchup between Sparta and Plzen, aided by the return
of Vladimir Vujtek to Sparta from the NHL, lured 8,500 spectators to
Prague's Sport Hall. Five minutes before the end Vujtek assisted David
Vyborny on the deciding goal, and Plzen lost first place in the
standings to Zlin, which defeated Kladno. Zlin's Vladimir Hudacek has
not allowed a goal in six games.
Litvinov is in financial distress. Its owner, Chemopetrol, wants to
sell it, but the club is able to continue this season thanks to a loan
from Chemopetrol and the city.
Vitkovice has not won in 12 games, Znojmo has not lost in seven
games. Kladno defeated Trinec after losing 0-2, as Kladno's Jiri Burger
scored a hat trick.
Results of the 19th round: Sparta Praha - Plzen 3-2, Zlin - Kladno 4-0,
Vitkovice - Slavia Praha 1-1, Litvinov - Havirov 2-4, Pardubice - Znojmo
4-4, Trinec - Karlovy Vary 3-1. Ceske Budejovice - Vsetin.
Results of the 20th round: Vsetin - Litvinov 4-3, Plzen - Vitkovice
5-2, Karlovy Vary - Pardubice 4-0, Slavia Praha - Zlin 1-2, Znojmo
- Ceske Budejovice 2-2, Kladno - Trinec 7-5.
Postponed game of the 7th round: Sparta Praha - Havirov 2-1.
Standings: 1. Zlin 29, 2. Plzen 28, 3. Vsetin 25, 4. Sparta Praha 24,
5. Litvinov 22, 6. Trinec 21, 7. Ceske Budejovice 21, 8. Znojmo 19, 9.
Karlovy Vary 17, 10. Slavia Praha 17, 11. Vitkovice 15, 12. Kladno 15,
13. Pardubice 15, 14. Havirov 12. Darina Johanidesova/Mirek Langer
Cyclocross Racer Simunek Has Positive Blood Test
Four-time world cyclocross champion Radomir Simunek failed a blood
test before the opening race of the World Cup in Safenwil, Switzerland
November 7.
Simunek's red blood-cell count was 2 per cent higher than the
maximum 50 per cent. Simunek could not compete and will be out for two
weeks before another test at the headquarters of International Cycling
Union in Lausanne.
Simunek said the result of the test stems from a case of diarrhea
he had before the race. At a test in Prague his red blood-cell level was
at 49 per cent, so he went to Switzerland.
Jiri Pospisil finished third in Safenwil.
Dita Kristanova/Mirek Langer
WEATHER
Temperatures at the end of the week should range between 4 degrees
and 8 degrees Celsius/39 degrees and 46 degrees Fahrenheit (the average
temperature has recently been about 5 degrees Celsius/41 degrees
Fahrenheit).
There will be fog and clouds in the morning, which might help keep
temperatures low. Expect drizzles during the day, and in the highlands
there is already a threat of snow. There are 20 centimeters of snow
already in Krusne Hory, but that is still too little for winter sports,
according to the Mountain Service. Jaroslav Svelch/Daniela Vrbova
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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